Louise Archambault

Louise Archambault, a key figure in Québécois cinema, merges neo-naturalism with classic storytelling, often spotlighting strong women challenging societal norms. Her acclaimed film "Gabrielle" (2013) earned her the Canadian Screen Award for Best Motion Picture and multiple Jutra Awards. Initially considering medical school, Archambault shifted to filmmaking, starting as a sound trainee on "Lance et compte" (1986–88). After honing skills at Concordia University, she worked in diverse roles, including as assistant director on Jean-Marc Vallée’s "Liste noire" (1995). Joining Roger Frappier’s Max Films in 1998, she contributed as a cinematographer for "2 secondes" (1998). Her debut short, "Atomic Saké" (1999), internationally recognized and awarded the Jutra Award for Best Short Film, preceded her impactful feature "Familia" (2005), lauded at TIFF with honours such as Best Canadian First Feature Film and the Claude Jutra Award. These successes established Archambault as a rising talent in Canadian cinema.

The National Parks Project (2011)

In an increasingly urban nation, Canada’s national parks are a treasured escape into extraordinary beauty and rugged wilderness. If the Group of Seven were an introduction to the landscape’s majesty, National Parks Project is the next logical chapter. Fifty-two ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Zacharias Kunuk  •  Catherine Martin  •  Louise Archambault  •  Jamie Travis  •  Stéphane Lafleur  •  Keith Behrman  •  Daniel Cockburn  •  Hubert Davis  •  Sturla Gunnarsson  •  Peter Lynch  •  Kevin McMahon  •  John Walker  •  Scott Smith
CAST: 

In an increasingly urban nation, Canada’s national parks are a treasured escape into extraordinary beauty and rugged wilderness. If the Group of Seven were an introduction to the landscape’s majesty, National Parks Project is the next logical chapter. Fifty-two ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Zacharias Kunuk  •  Catherine Martin  •  Louise Archambault  •  Jamie Travis  •  Stéphane Lafleur  •  Keith Behrman  •  Daniel Cockburn  •  Hubert Davis  •  Sturla Gunnarsson  •  Peter Lynch  •  Kevin McMahon  •  John Walker  •  Scott Smith
CAST: 

Gabrielle (2013)

Gabrielle is a young woman with Williams syndrome who has a contagious joie de vivre and an exceptional musical gift. Since she met her boyfriend Martin, at the recreation centre where they are choir members, they have been inseparable. However, because they are ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Louise Archambault
CAST:  Gabrielle Marion-Rivard  •  Alexandre Landry  •  Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin  •  Vincent-Guillaume Otis

Gabrielle is a young woman with Williams syndrome who has a contagious joie de vivre and an exceptional musical gift. Since she met her boyfriend Martin, at the recreation centre where they are choir members, they have been inseparable. However, because they are ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Louise Archambault
CAST:  Gabrielle Marion-Rivard  •  Alexandre Landry  •  Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin  •  Vincent-Guillaume Otis

Familia (2005)

When gambling addict Michele moves in with her childhood friend Janine, their teenaged daughter’s burgeoning friendship produces both humorous and heartbreaking results.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Louise Archambault
CAST:  Sylvie Moreau  •  Macha Grenon  •  Juliette Gosselin  •  Mylène St-Sauveur

When gambling addict Michele moves in with her childhood friend Janine, their teenaged daughter’s burgeoning friendship produces both humorous and heartbreaking results.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Louise Archambault
CAST:  Sylvie Moreau  •  Macha Grenon  •  Juliette Gosselin  •  Mylène St-Sauveur

Thanks for Everything (2019)

Sisters Marianne and Christine take a road trip from Montreal to the Magdalen Islands to spread the ashes of their late father. He wasn’t exactly an angel, and his associates are hot on their trail.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Louise Archambault
CAST:  Magalie Lépine-Blondeau  •  Julie Perreault  •  Robin Aubert  •  Aliocha Schneider

Sisters Marianne and Christine take a road trip from Montreal to the Magdalen Islands to spread the ashes of their late father. He wasn’t exactly an angel, and his associates are hot on their trail.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Louise Archambault
CAST:  Magalie Lépine-Blondeau  •  Julie Perreault  •  Robin Aubert  •  Aliocha Schneider

And the Birds Rained Down (2019)

A photographer sets off toward a mysterious forest to find Boychuk, witness and victim of the Great Fire that swept through Northern Ontario at the turn of the 20th century. But before she arrives, she learns that Boychuck has just perished. Survivors of the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Louise Archambault
CAST:  Andrée Lachapelle  •  Gilbert Sicotte  •  Rémy Girard  •  Eve Landry

A photographer sets off toward a mysterious forest to find Boychuk, witness and victim of the Great Fire that swept through Northern Ontario at the turn of the 20th century. But before she arrives, she learns that Boychuck has just perished. Survivors of the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Louise Archambault
CAST:  Andrée Lachapelle  •  Gilbert Sicotte  •  Rémy Girard  •  Eve Landry

Discovering William Greaves (2006)

A documentary on the career of William Greaves, featuring Greaves, his wife and co-producer Louise Archambault, actor Ruby Dee, filmmaker St. Clair Bourne, and film scholar Scott MacDonald. Released within Criterion's Symbiopsychotaxiplasm set.  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  William Greaves  •  Ruby Dee  •  St. Clair Bourne  •  Louise Archambault

A documentary on the career of William Greaves, featuring Greaves, his wife and co-producer Louise Archambault, actor Ruby Dee, filmmaker St. Clair Bourne, and film scholar Scott MacDonald. Released within Criterion's Symbiopsychotaxiplasm set.  (more)

DIRECTION: 
CAST:  William Greaves  •  Ruby Dee  •  St. Clair Bourne  •  Louise Archambault

Atomic Saké (2001)

The film centres on Ariane, Véronique and Mathilde, three female friends talking over drinks who decide to reveal their innermost secrets, including Mathilde's revelation that she is in love with Ariane and tries to come out to her.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Louise Archambault
CAST:  Audrey Benoit  •  Suzanne Clément  •  Noémie Godin-Vigneau

The film centres on Ariane, Véronique and Mathilde, three female friends talking over drinks who decide to reveal their innermost secrets, including Mathilde's revelation that she is in love with Ariane and tries to come out to her.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Louise Archambault
CAST:  Audrey Benoit  •  Suzanne Clément  •  Noémie Godin-Vigneau

The Bad Seed Returns (2022)

Several years after the murderous events of the first movie left her father dead, Emma is now living with her aunt Angela and navigating high school. Angela’s husband begins to suspect that Emma may not be as innocent as she appears and suggests sending her off to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Louise Archambault
CAST:  Mckenna Grace  •  Patty McCormack  •  Michelle Morgan  •  Benjamin Ayres

Several years after the murderous events of the first movie left her father dead, Emma is now living with her aunt Angela and navigating high school. Angela’s husband begins to suspect that Emma may not be as innocent as she appears and suggests sending her off to ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Louise Archambault
CAST:  Mckenna Grace  •  Patty McCormack  •  Michelle Morgan  •  Benjamin Ayres

Be Mine, Valentine (2022)

Piper Davis is a dedicated proposal planner who orchestrates elaborate proposal events for her clients. With Valentine's Day around the corner, she is overloaded with requests, on top of dealing with mixed emotions aligned with the holiday, due to a past failed romance.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Louise Archambault
CAST:  Kaitlyn Leeb  •  Brendon Zub  •  Charlie Benger  •  Kenny Wong

Piper Davis is a dedicated proposal planner who orchestrates elaborate proposal events for her clients. With Valentine's Day around the corner, she is overloaded with requests, on top of dealing with mixed emotions aligned with the holiday, due to a past failed romance.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Louise Archambault
CAST:  Kaitlyn Leeb  •  Brendon Zub  •  Charlie Benger  •  Kenny Wong

Is That Black Enough for You?!? (2022)

A look at the Black revolution in 1970s cinema, from genre films to social realism, from the making of new superstars to the craft of rising auteurs.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Elvis Mitchell
CAST:  Margaret Avery  •  Elvis Mitchell  •  Harry Belafonte  •  Charles Burnett

A look at the Black revolution in 1970s cinema, from genre films to social realism, from the making of new superstars to the craft of rising auteurs.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Elvis Mitchell
CAST:  Margaret Avery  •  Elvis Mitchell  •  Harry Belafonte  •  Charles Burnett

Irena's Vow (2023)

19-year-old Irena Gut is promoted to housekeeper in the home of a highly respected Nazi officer in Poland when she finds out that the Jewish ghetto is about to be liquidated. Determined to help 12 Jewish workers, she decides to shelter them in the safest place she ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Louise Archambault
CAST:  Sophie Nélisse  •  Dougray Scott  •  Maciej Nawrocki  •  Andrzej Seweryn

19-year-old Irena Gut is promoted to housekeeper in the home of a highly respected Nazi officer in Poland when she finds out that the Jewish ghetto is about to be liquidated. Determined to help 12 Jewish workers, she decides to shelter them in the safest place she ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Louise Archambault
CAST:  Sophie Nélisse  •  Dougray Scott  •  Maciej Nawrocki  •  Andrzej Seweryn

Little Death

The solitude of a mime in fall. Classical and pornographic.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Louise Archambault
CAST:  Stéphane Crête

The solitude of a mime in fall. Classical and pornographic.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Louise Archambault
CAST:  Stéphane Crête

One Summer (2023)

For more than 25 years, Marc Côté, street chaplain and parish priest, has lived with the poor and the homeless. Today, Marc is a worn-out man. Exhausted from running his church, which serves as a shelter, and overwhelmed by the bills they can no longer pay, Marc ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Louise Archambault
CAST:  Patrice Robitaille  •  Guy Nadon  •  Élise Guilbault  •  Martin Dubreuil

For more than 25 years, Marc Côté, street chaplain and parish priest, has lived with the poor and the homeless. Today, Marc is a worn-out man. Exhausted from running his church, which serves as a shelter, and overwhelmed by the bills they can no longer pay, Marc ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Louise Archambault
CAST:  Patrice Robitaille  •  Guy Nadon  •  Élise Guilbault  •  Martin Dubreuil